Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net.

Although
it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one
player per side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is often played as a
casual outdoor activity in a yard or on a beach; formal games are played on a rectangular indoor
court. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the
opposing side's half of the court.

 HISTORY
Games employing shuttlecocks have been played for centuries across Eurasia but the modern
game of badminton developed in the mid-19th century among the British as a variant of the
earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock. ("Battledore" was an older term for "racquet".) Its
exact origin remains obscure (not discover). As early as 1860, a London toy dealer named Isaac
Spratt published a booklet titled Badminton Battledore—A New Game but unfortunately no copy
has survived. An 1863 article in The Cornhill Magazine describes badminton as "battledore and
shuttlecock played with sides, across a string suspended some five feet from the ground".
The game may have originally developed among expatriate officers in British India, where it was
very popular by the 1870s. Ball badminton, a form of the game played with a wool ball instead of
a shuttlecock, was being played in Thanjavur as early as the 1850s and was at first played
interchangeably with badminton by the British, the woollen ball being preferred in windy or wet
weather.
Early on, the game was also known as Poona or Poonah after the garrison town
of Pune, where it was particularly popular and where the first rules for the game were drawn up
in 1873. By 1875, returning officers had started a badminton club in Folkestone. Initially, the
sport was played with sides ranging from 1–4 players but it was quickly established that games
between two or four competitors worked the best. The shuttlecocks were coated with India
rubber and, in outdoor play, sometimes weighted with lead. Although the depth of the net was of
no consequence, it was preferred that it should reach the ground.
England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New
Zealand were the founding members of the International Badminton Federation in 1934, now known
as the Badminton World Federation.

 RULES
The following information is a simplified summary of badminton rules based on the BWF
Statutes publication, Laws of Badminton.

 Court
The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are usually marked for both
singles and doubles play, although badminton rules permit a court to be marked for singles
only.[12] The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of same length. The
exception, which often causes confusion to newer players, is that the doubles court has a
shorter serve-length dimension.
The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 ft), and in singles this width is reduced to
5.18 metres (17 ft). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 ft). The service courts are
marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of
1.98 metres (6 ft 6 inch) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles,
the service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 inch) from
the back boundary.
The net is 1.55 metres (5 ft 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5 ft) high in the centre.
The net posts are placed over the doubles sidelines, even when singles is played.
The minimum height for the ceiling above the court is not mentioned in the Laws of Badminton.
Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high
serve.
  Serving
When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents'
court or it will count as a fault.
At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service
courts (see court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the
receiver's service court. This is similar to tennis, except that a badminton serve must be hit
below waist height and with the racquet shaft pointing downwards, the shuttlecock is not
allowed to bounce and in badminton, the players stand inside their service courts unlike tennis.
When the serving side loses a rally, the serve immediately passes to their opponent(s) (this
differs from the old system where sometimes the serve passes to the doubles partner for what is
known as a "second serve").
In singles, the server stands in their right service court when their score is even, and in her/his
left service court when her/his score is odd.
In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he/she
changes service courts so that she/he serves to a different opponent each time. If the
opponents win the rally and their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves;
if odd, the player in the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by
their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of
the rally. A consequence of this system is that, each time a side regains the service, the server
will be the player who did not serve last time.

 Scoring
Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally
regardless of whether they served (this differs from the old system where players could only win
a point on their serve and each game was played to 15 points). A match is the best of three
games.
If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead (such
as 24–22), except when there is a tie at 29-all, in which the game goes to a golden point.
Whoever scores this point will win.
At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and the side towards which the shuttlecock is
pointing serves first. Alternatively, a coin may be tossed, with the winners choosing whether to
serve or receive first, or choosing which end of the court to occupy first, and their opponents
making the leftover the remaining choice.
In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. Matches are best out of
three: a player or pair must win two games (of 21 points each) to win the match. For the first
rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may
decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match
reaches a third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading
player's or pair's score reaches 11 points.
The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching the boundary
lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they
wish, so long as they do not block the vision of the server or receiver.

 Lets
If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur
because of some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on court (having been
hit there by players playing in adjacent court) or in small halls the shuttle may touch an
overhead rail which can be classed as a let.
If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet, if the receiver
attempts to return the shuttlecock, the receiver shall be judged to have been ready.
  EQUIPMETNS
 Racquets
Badminton racquets are lightweight, with top quality racquets weighing between 70 and 95
grams (2.5 and 3.4 ounces) not including grip or strings. [13][14] They are composed of many
different materials ranging from carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced plastic) to solid steel,
which may be augmented by a variety of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent strength to
weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon
fibre composite, racquets were made of light metals such as aluminum. Earlier still, racquets
were made of wood. Cheap racquets are still often made of metals such as steel, but wooden
racquets are no longer manufactured for the ordinary market, because of their excessive mass
and cost. Nowadays, nanomaterials such as fullerene and carbon nanotubes are added to
racquets giving them greater durability.[citation needed]
There is a wide variety of racquet designs, although the laws limit the racquet size and shape.
Different racquets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players. The traditional
oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly common in new
racquets.
 Strings
Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings with thicknesses ranging from about 0.62 to
0.73 mm. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel of thinner strings.
String tension is normally in the range of 80 to 160 N (18 to 36 lbf). Recreational players
generally string at lower tensions than professionals, typically between 80 and 110 N (18 and
25 lbf). Professionals string between about 110 and 160 N (25 and 36 lbf). Some string
manufacturers measure the thickness of their strings under tension so they are actually thicker
than specified when slack. Ashaway Micropower is actually 0.7mm but Yonex BG-66 is about
0.72mm.
It is often argued that high string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions increase
power.[15] The arguments for this generally rely on crude mechanical reasoning, such as
claiming that a lower tension string bed is more bouncy and therefore provides more power.
This is in fact incorrect, for a higher string tension can cause the shuttle to slide off the racquet
and hence make it harder to hit a shot accurately. An alternative view suggests that the
optimum tension for power depends on the player:[13] the faster and more accurately a player
can swing their racquet, the higher the tension for maximum power. Neither view has been
subjected to a rigorous mechanical analysis, nor is there clear evidence in favour of one or the
other. The most effective way for a player to find a good string tension is to experiment.
 Grip
The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of their racquet handle and choose
a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before
applying the final layer.
Players may choose between a variety of grip materials. The most common choices
are PU synthetic grips or towelling grips. Grip choice is a matter of personal preference. Players
often find that sweat becomes a problem; in this case, a drying agent may be applied to the grip
or hands, sweatbands may be used, the player may choose another grip material or change
his/her grip more frequently.
There are two main types of grip: replacement grips and overgrips. Replacement grips are
thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Overgrips are thinner (less than
1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Many players, however, prefer to use replacement
grips as the final layer. Towelling grips are always replacement grips. Replacement grips have
an adhesive backing, whereas overgrips have only a small patch of adhesive at the start of the
tape and must be applied under tension; overgrips are more convenient for players who change
grips frequently, because they may be removed more rapidly without damaging the underlying
material.
 Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock (often abbreviated to shuttle; also called a birdie) is a high-drag projectile, with an
open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a
rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material. Synthetic shuttles
are often used by recreational players to reduce their costs as feathered shuttles break easily.
These nylon shuttles may be constructed with either natural cork or synthetic foam base, and a
plastic skirt.
  Shoes
Badminton shoes are lightweight with soles of rubber or similar high-grip, non-marking materials.
Compared to running shoes, badminton shoes have little lateral support. High levels of lateral
support are useful for activities where lateral motion is undesirable and unexpected. Badminton,
however, requires powerful lateral movements. A highly built-up lateral support will not be able
to protect the foot in badminton; instead, it will encourage catastrophic collapse at the point
where the shoe's support fails, and the player's ankles are not ready for the sudden loading,
which can cause sprains. For this reason, players should choose badminton shoes rather than
general trainers or running shoes, because proper badminton shoes will have a very thin sole,
lower a person's centre of gravity, and therefore result in fewer injuries. Players should also
ensure that they learn safe and proper footwork, with the knee and foot in alignment on all
lunges. This is more than just a safety concern: proper footwork is also critical in order to move
effectively around the court.

 Terminologies
o Alley - side-extension of the court by l½ feet on both sides that is used for doubles play.
o Back Alley - Area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles.
o Backcourt - the back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines.
o Baseline - Back boundary line at each end of the court, that runs parallel to the net.
o Bird or birdie - another name for the shuttlecock
o Carry - An illegal tactic, also called a sling or throw, in which the shuttle is caught and
held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke.
o Center Line - Line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service
courts.
o Clear - A shot hit deep to the opponent’s back court.
o Court - Area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.
o Drive - A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.
o Drop - A shot hit sohly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the
opponent’s side.
o Fault - A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play (see
common faults listed below).
o Flick - A quick wrist and forearm rotation that surprises an opponent by changing an
apparently soft shot into a faster passing one; used primarily on the serve and at the net.
o Forecourt - Front third of the court, between the net and the short service line.
o Hairpin Net Shot - Shot made from below and very close to the net with the shuttle
rising, just clearing the net, and then dropping sharply down the other side. The shuttle’s
flight approximates the shape of a hairpin.
o Halfcourt Shot - A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles against the
up-and-back formation.
o Kill - Fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; a "putaway."
o Let - A legitimate cessation of play to allow a rally to be replayed.
o Long Service Line - In singles, the back boundary line. In doubles a line 2 l/2 feet inside
the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line.
o Match - A series of games (at U.S. Olympic Festival-’93 it is three out of five), to
determine a winner. Midcourt - The middle third of the court, halfway between the net
and the back boundary line.
o Net Shot - Shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply.
o Push Shot - Gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist motion, usually
from net or midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt.
o Racket - Instrument used by playerto hit shuttlecock Weight:About3 ounces. Length: 27
inches. Made of: Ceramic, graphite, or boron frame; beef-gut string. Cost: $60-$175
(unstrung).
o Rally – this occurs when the players hit the bird back and forth several times before one
side scores a point
o Serve or Service – players put the shuttlecock into play for points by “serving” it to
opponents, hitting it over the net into a special part of the court near their opponent
o Service Court - Area into which the serve must be delivered. Different for singles and
doubles play.
o Short Service Line - The line 6 l/2 feet from the net which a serve must reach to be
legal.
o Shuttlecock - thje name for the object that players hit, made of a ball of cork or rubber
with a crown of feathers in an open conical shape.
o Smash – when a shuttle is floated high into the air, a player has time to unleash a
powerful overhand shot straight to the floor of the opposing court
o Wood Shot - Shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of the
racket. Once illegal, this shot was ruled acceptable by the International Badminton
Federation in 1963.